Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: FAST Ventures, the Dubai-based marketing holding company, has formally announced the launch of FAST Foundry, a $3 million venture studio aimed at supporting early-stage startups across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).&nbsp; The announcement was made in an official company press release stating that&nbsp;FAST Foundry will back founders building new adtech, retail, creator economy, AI,&nbsp;and marketing products with the potential to scale globally.&nbsp; The company combines the $3 million fund with access to FAST Ventures&rsquo; in-house teams across&nbsp;AI-native marketing agents, retail and commerce-media infrastructure, creator and influencer-commerce tools, and emerging consumer verticals, offering what the company calls a &#39;structured path&#39; from idea to early traction. <div class="fr-embed"><iframe src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:share:7397248693520732161?collapsed=1" height="391" width="504" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Embedded post"></iframe></div> &quot;FAST Foundry is the next chapter,&quot; said Waseem Afzal, CEO of FAST Ventures, in the official announcement.&nbsp; &quot;We&rsquo;re backing founders who want to create tools, platforms, and products that redefine how marketing and growth work, built in MENA, for the world.&quot; FAST Ventures says the initiative is aimed at a recurring challenge in the region: early-stage ventures often stall before achieving revenue stability. The firm highlights regional data showing that nearly 90% of MENA startups fail within a few years, and 43% struggle to build repeatable demand, even when the underlying product is strong. What it means for Pakistani&#39;sAlthough the fund is based in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan falls within the broader MENA investment footprint. Many Pakistani startups set up in Dubai or Riyadh for access to capital, and the studio&rsquo;s focus on adtech, AI, creator platforms, and digital commerce aligns with sectors where Pakistani founders are increasingly active. Selected startups will receive investment and workspace at FAST Ventures&rsquo; Dubai Internet City headquarters or its offices in Riyadh, along with engineering and go-to-market assistance through FAST&rsquo;s affiliated units: Platformance, Lion, and Calibrate.

Artificial Intelligence

FAST Ventures has launched FAST Foundry, aiming to support early-stage startups. The fund provides capital, workspace, and operational support, including marketing, AI, and creator tools, offering opportunities for Pakistani and MENA region founders.

Dubai startup launches $3m venture fund, opens doors to Pakistani founders

TEHRAN: Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards confirmed on Saturday that they had seized an oil tanker in the Gulf as it sailed away from a UAE port, a day after security companies determined they were likely responsible. &quot;Yesterday morning at 7:30, after a judicial authority ordered the seizure of the cargo of an oil tanker with the trade name Talara and the flag of the Marshall Islands, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) rapid reaction units of the naval forces monitored its movements and intercepted and seized it,&quot; said the IRGC, the ideological arm of the Islamic republic&#39;s military. &quot;The tanker was found to be in violation of the law by carrying unauthorized cargo,&quot; the statement continued, adding it &quot;was carrying 30,000 tonnes of petrochemical cargo and was heading to Singapore.&quot; The Iranian news agency Fars said that action was not taken as a measure against any other nation but was a purely local matter. The seized cargo, the report said, was made up of Iranian-produced petrochemicals being illegally exported and &quot;the main culprit was an Iranian individual or business.&quot; The vessel had departed from Ajman in the United Arab Emirates and was heading south through the Strait of Hormuz when it was approached by three small boats, after which it made a &quot;sudden course deviation,&quot; maritime security company Ambrey said. The US Navy had earlier said it was &quot;actively monitoring the situation.&quot; &quot;Commercial vessels are entitled to largely unimpeded rights of navigation and commerce on the high seas,&quot; said the US 5th Fleet, which patrols the region. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil and liquefied natural gas, has previously been the scene of similar incidents. Last year, the Revolutionary Guards seized a container ship, saying it had links to Israel, following a deadly attack on Iran&#39;s consulate in Syria blamed on Israel.

File Photo - Iraq’s state ports company and naval forces carry out a joint operation in Iraqi territorial waters and the Khor Abdallah channel to ensure navigational safety and crack down on oil smugglers on August 7, 2025. 

Asia

Middle East

Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed on Saturday that they had seized an oil tanker in the Gulf as it sailed away from a UAE port, a day after security companies determined they were likely responsible.

Iran Guards confirm they seized oil tanker in Gulf

ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates is not planning to join the international stabilization force for Gaza because it lacks a clear framework, a senior official said on Monday. &quot;The UAE does not yet see a clear framework for the stability force, and under such circumstances will probably not participate in such a force,&quot; Emirati presidential advisor Anwar Gargash told the Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate forum. The US-coordinated international force has been seen as likely to include troops from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, as well as the UAE. Last week, US President Donald Trump said he expected the force to be in Gaza &quot;very soon&quot;, as a fragile ceasefire holds following two years of war. The oil-rich UAE is one of the few Arab nations with official ties to Israel after signing the Abraham Accords during Trump&#39;s first term in 2020.

Emirati presidential advisor Anwar Gargash says the UAE does not yet see a clear framework for the stability force, and under such circumstances will probably not participate in such a force.

UAE 'probably' won't join Gaza stabilization force: senior official

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited Qatari investors to explore new avenues of collaboration under the government&#39;s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) framework. Talking to Qatar&#39;s Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani in Islamabad on Friday, the prime minister underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral trade and investment cooperation, emphasizing opportunities in energy, agriculture, food security, information technology, tourism and infrastructure development, said a report published by state-run Radio Pakistan. &lsquo;Positive trajectory&rsquo;&nbsp;The prime minister expressed satisfaction at the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Qatar relations, anchored in shared faith, values, and mutual respect. He also appreciated Qatar&#39;s role as an important partner and an influential regional mediator. The prime minister conveyed Pakistan&#39;s deep appreciation for Qatar&#39;s consistent support on regional and global issues and reiterated Pakistan&#39;s desire to strengthen collaboration at regional and multilateral fora. In his remarks, Qatar&#39;s Minister of Commerce and Industry conveyed warm greetings from the Qatari leadership and reaffirmed Qatar&#39;s commitment to further deepen economic engagement with Pakistan. Joint Ministerial Commission&nbsp;Qatar&#39;s Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani is in Pakistan to co-chair the 6th Session of Pakistan-Qatar Joint Ministerial Commission.&nbsp; He noted that the 6th Session of the JMC provided an important platform to review existing cooperation and identify new initiatives to advance mutually beneficial partnerships. Both sides agreed to continue close coordination to translate shared understandings into tangible outcomes, including greater facilitation for business-to-business linkages and investment projects. Earlier, a press release issued by the Press Information Department of Pakistan on Thursday regarding 6th Session of Pak-Qatar JMC For Economic, Trade, and Technical Cooperation, stated: &quot;In the realm of trade, economy, and investment, the signed protocol commits both nations to realizing His Highness the Amir of Qatar&rsquo;s vision of investing USD 3 billion in Pakistan through the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) or other investment vehicles.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;A key focus was strengthening direct engagement between Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the QIA to streamline investment processes and create a conducive environment for Qatari investors. The SIFC was highlighted as a pivotal platform to facilitate investments in priority sectors, ensuring seamless coordination and support for Qatari businesses,&quot; it said.&nbsp;Pak, UAE leaders discuss bilateral issues&nbsp;Meanwhile, a statement issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Office of the Spokesperson) on Friday, Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke on the phone late last night with the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. &nbsp; &ldquo;The two leaders discussed bilateral &amp; multilateral issues of mutual interest as well as recent regional &amp; global developments, and agreed to stay closely engaged,&rdquo; it said. Flow of remittances Dar also chaired a meeting to review the flow of remittances from abroad, particularly from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, said another statement issued by the ministry. He emphasized the need to increase, improve, and facilitate remittance flows through the use of digital technologies, reducing transfer time and minimizing transaction costs to better serve overseas Pakistanis and their families.&nbsp; The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Tariq Bajwa, the Governor and Deputy Governor State Bank of Pakistan, and other concerned officials.

Business

Talking to Qatar's Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani in Islamabad on Friday, Pakistan's prime minister underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral trade and investment cooperation, emphasizing opportunities in energy, agriculture, food security, information technology, tourism and infrastructure development.

Pakistan invites Qatari investors to explore new avenues of collaboration  

DOHA: The United Arab Emirates edged past Oman 2-1 in the fourth round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Saturday. UAE now needs a draw against host Qatar on Tuesday to reach the finals for the first time since 1990.&nbsp;The loss ended Oman&rsquo;s chances of winning the three-team Group A and securing automatic qualification for a first World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. But the team can still finish second and advance to the fifth round.&nbsp;Oman, who drew 0-0 with Qatar on Wednesday, took the lead in the 12th minute when an Amjad Al Harthi shot was deflected in by defender Kouame Autonne at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.&nbsp;After holding on for most of the match, Oman&rsquo;s defense was finally opened up in the 76th minute when Marcus Meloni headed in an Ali Saleh cross at the far post.&nbsp;Seven minutes later, Caio Lucas delivered a cross from the left that eluded everyone to give the UAE the lead to the delight of 5,000 traveling fans.&nbsp;In Group B, Iraq defeated Indonesia 1-0 to move level on points with Saudi Arabia ahead of their meeting on Tuesday.&nbsp;Former Manchester United youth player Zidane Iqbal scored the only goal on 76 minutes with a low shot from the edge of the area.&nbsp;Iraq must defeat group leader Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Tuesday to qualify for a first World Cup since 1986, as the host has scored more goals, having beaten Indonesia 3-2 on Wednesday.&nbsp;The two losses mean Indonesia cannot qualify.

Football

The United Arab Emirates defeated Oman 2-1 in Doha, moving within a draw of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1990. Marcus Meloni and Caio Lucas scored late to overturn Oman’s early lead.



UAE on verge of first World Cup appearance since 1990

DUBAI:&nbsp;Pakistan set up another charged showdown with arch-rivals India at the Asia Cup after defeating the United Arab Emirates by 41 runs in Dubai on Wednesday.The match began an hour late as the fallout rumbled on from a handshake row with India.The Pakistan Cricket Board was considering pulling out from the tournament after their demand to remove Andy Pycroft who oversaw Sunday&#39;s game, after which the India team refused to shake hands with their rivals, AFP reported.A statement issued today by the PCB shortly before the toss between Pakistan and UAE said: &ldquo;The ICC&rsquo;s match referee, Andy Pycroft, has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistan cricket team.&rdquo;It said he termed the Sunday incident &ldquo;a result of miscommunication and apologised&rdquo;. The PCB also added that the ICC expressed its willingness to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation that occurred during the match.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1968337164342821208&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=c8d159cbf5620995ea7e46194d9b20427d0819bc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 697px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Fakhar Zaman scored 50 off 36 balls and Shaheen Shah Afridi added a brisk 29 not out as Pakistan made a modest 146-9 batting first, AFP reported.Pakistan&#39;s bowling chargeSpinner Abrar Ahmed led Pakistan&#39;s bowling charge with 2-13 as the UAE were dismissed for 105 in 17.4 overs. Shaheen took 2-16 and fellow paceman Haris Rauf 2-19.The win means Pakistan join India in the Super Four from Group A. They will meet again in Dubai on Sunday.Rahul Chopra top-scored for the hosts with run-a-ball 35.Pakistan got off to a shaky start as Saim Ayub fell for a second-ball duck while Sahibzada Farhan made five, both falling to pace bowler Junaid Siddique.Siddique finished with an impressive 4-18 in his four overs.Zaman and Salman Agha added 61 for the third wicket. Agha made 20.Three sixes Zaman hit three sixes and two fours before he fell to left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh, who took 3-26.It was left to Shaheen to help Pakistan add 51 in the last five overs.Sri Lanka meet Afghanistan in Abdu Dhabi to decide who goes through to the next round from Group B. Bangladesh are also in the running with two wins in three matches.

Cricket

Pakistan defeated UAE by 41 runs in the Asia Cup, with Fakhar Zaman scoring 50. The win sets up a rematch with India after a match delay due to a handshake controversy.

Pakistan beat UAE to set up another India clash in Asia Cup

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to deepen collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking, Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced Friday.&nbsp;The agreement followed a meeting in Islamabad between Naqvi and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, chairman of the UAE&rsquo;s National Anti-Narcotics Authority. The two sides discussed counter-narcotics efforts and other shared concerns.&nbsp;Both countries committed to enhancing joint operations and intelligence-sharing to curb drug smuggling. Naqvi reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s role as a frontline state in this fight, stating, &ldquo;Those involved in this heinous trade are being dealt with an iron hand.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The war against drugs is a war for our generations, and in this war, defeat is not an option,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Sheikh Zayed praised Pakistan&rsquo;s resolve and pledged &ldquo;all possible cooperation&rdquo; to protect future generations from the scourge of narcotics.&nbsp;The meeting builds on earlier trilateral talks involving Saudi Arabia, addressing issues such as migration, community conduct, and narcotics control. These discussions come amid concerns over Pakistani nationals facing criticism in Gulf countries over issues like begging, harassment, TikTok disturbances, and drug trafficking, challenges that have affected visa access.&nbsp;In response, the UAE embassy has launched a one-window visa operation aimed at gradually easing restrictions on Pakistani applicants. Officials acknowledge progress but emphasize that further efforts are needed to fully normalize visa policies.&nbsp;Also present at the meeting were Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, federal secretaries, leadership of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), and senior officials from the interior ministry. Pakistan has appointed DG ANF Major General Abdul Mueed as its special representative for the partnership, while the UAE nominated Brigadier Tahir Gharib.

Foreign Affairs

UAE praises Pakistan’s resolve and pledged “all possible cooperation” to protect future generations from the scourge of narcotics.

Articles tagged with "UAE"

Dubai startup launches $3m venture fund, opens doors to Pakistani founders

Iran Guards confirm they seized oil tanker in Gulf

UAE 'probably' won't join Gaza stabilization force: senior official

Pakistan invites Qatari investors to explore new avenues of collaboration

UAE on verge of first World Cup appearance since 1990

Pakistan beat UAE to set up another India clash in Asia Cup

Pakistan, UAE strengthen cooperation to combat drug trafficking

Dubai startup launches $3m venture fund, opens doors to Pakistani founders